Carrying case for bottle cartons and the like



' y 1965 R. N. BRANDON EI'AL 3,134,095

CARRYING CASE FOR BOTTLE CARTONS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May28, 1959 IN V EN TORJ' y 1965 R. N. BRANDON ETAL 3,184,095

CARRYING CASE FOR BOTTLE CARTONS AND THE LIKE 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 28 1959 INVENTOR. RIM/A RD N. B RA/vflo/v woopkov k .SMLE) UnitedStates Patent 3,184,095 CARRYING CASE FGR BOTTLE CARTGNS AND THE LEGS.

Richard N. Brandon, Richmond, and Woodrow W. Solley, Henrico Uounty, Vaassignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va, a corporation ofDelaware Filed May 28, 1959, Ser. No. 816,601 3 Claims. (Qi. 220-21)This invention relates to an improved carrying case for bottles incartons, and the like, in which the sidewall portion of the case is madefrom extruded metal, such as aluminum or its alloys, the extrusionhaving a continuous cross-section, and in which the floor and dividerconstruc tion is made from relatively simple, nonmetallic slabs,ordinarily of rectangular cross-section.

The extruded sidewall material preferably is made of aluminum or itsalloys, or similar metal, which lends itself to extrusions of relativelycomplicated cross-section, and which permits such extrusions to beworked and formed into the desired shapes for the construction of thecarrying case. The floor and dividers preferably are made of nonmetallicmaterial, such as wood or plastic material. Such floor and dividerspreferably are made of generally rectangular straight slabs which can beWorked by sawing, rabbeting, and similar simple operations. The extrudedside forming construction, and the floor and divider con struction areso coordinated, that the carrying case may be readily assembled in avery simple and efiicient manner.

Preferably, the. carrying case construction is such that all of themembers forming the carrying case may be interlocked and held togetherby two similar securing joints located adjacent opposite obliquelydisposed corners of the case, such joints being held together by simplesecuring means such as rivets, bolts or the like.

The construction of the case also is such that all of the maincomponents are of a design which permits final assembly to be made by asimple sidewise movement followed by a simple joint fastening procedure.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide asubstantially rectangular carrying case, the sidewalls of which are madefrom extruded metal having a continuous cross-section, which iscoordinated with a floor and dividers, preferably made of non-metallicmaterial in the form of slabs having simple or rectangularcross-section, the construction being such that the members forming thecarrying case are securely interlocked by similar securing jointslocated adjacent opposite obliquely disposed corners of the case.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrying case accordingto the foregoing object in which the sidewalls of the case are formed bya pair of similar inwardly facing sidewall forming members, each memberforming one complete side or first, substantially straight wall, of thecase and having integral therewith a short end, or second substantiallystraight wall, forming leg and a long end, or third substantiallystraight wall, forming leg at right angles to the main member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrying case accordingto the foregoing object, in which the long end, or third wall formingleg is provided with an aperture forming a hand hold for the case.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrying case accordingto any of the foregoing objects in which 3,l84,@5 Fatented May 18, 1965"ice the sidewall forming members may be laterally moved with respect toeach other completely to interlock with the floor and dividers, and toform the securing joints so that the members of the case may be securelylocked together at the two joints by a simple fastening operation.

Further objects will become apparent as the description proceeds withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FlGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a carrying case embodying thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a typical cross-section of the sidewall extrusion, onenlarged scale.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the case shown inFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the assembly operation forproducing the case.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the case shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the case shown in FlG- URE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-section taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 5, theview being on enlarged scale.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 8-8 ofFIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE6, on enlarged scale.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 19-10 ofFIGURE 6, on enlarged scale.

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal cross-section of a portion of FIGURE 9 takenalong the line 11-11 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURES 12 and 13 are horizontal cross-sections taken along the lines12-12 and 13-13 respectively of FIG- URE 10.

The words horizontal, vertical, and similar connotations are used hereinfor convenience in describing the invention, it being understood thatsuch description is applied to the case in its normal article carryingposition, and that the case may be in other positions at various times,at which times such connotations might not apply.

A substantially rectangular carrying case, according to this invention,preferably has a pair of opposed vertical sides, or substantiallystraight walls, and 21 and a pair of opposed vertical ends, orsubstantially straight walls, 23 and 24, as indicated by arrows inFIGURE 1. A pair of similar, somewhat L-shaped inwardly facing, extrudedmetal, sidewall forming members 26 and 27, indicated by arrows in FIGURE3, each has a main member extending along one complete side, orsubstantially straight wall, 29 or 21 in FIGURE 1, of the carrying case.Each such main member 28 has formed integrally therewith a short leg 3dwhich forms a portion of one end, or second substantially straight wall,23 or 24 in FIGURE 1, of the carrying case. Each main member 213 alsohas an integral long leg 32 which forms a portion of the other end, orthird substantially straight wall, 23 or 24 in FIGURE 1, of the carryingcase. The vertical sides Zll and 21 and the vertical ends 23 and 24preferably are joined by relatively gentle curves at the corners, whichpermit bending of the extrusion without deforming the channels, flanges,etc., later to be described.

A flat, non-metallic floor is provided at the bottom of the case, whichpreferably is formed of a plurality of slats 34, 35 and 36, which may bemade of wood, plastic material, or the like.

Two non-metallic slat-like dividers 38 and 39 are placed inside of thecase at right angles to each other.

The side members 26 and 27, FIGURE 3, the floor, which may be made ofslats 34, 35 and 36, and the dividers 38 and 39 are so shaped that theymay be substantially completely secured together by two similar securingjoints 41 and 42, FIGURE 1. Each joint, 41 and 42, is produced at astraight end 44 of a short leg 30 of one side wall forming member, andatan ofiset end 45 of a long leg 32 of the other side wall formingmember 28, as shown in FIGURE 3.

As shown in FIGURE 8, the ends 44 and 45 overlap and are directed towardeach other to form the joint 41 or 42, and these joints are locatedadjacent opposite obliquely disposed corners 47 and 43 of the carryingcase, FIGURE 1. After all of the parts of the case have been assembledtogether, the joints 41 and 42 are secured together by any suitablemeans, such as pinlike members 59 which pass horizontally throughopenings 51 in the ends 44 and 45. The pinlike members 50 may be rivetpins which may be riveted on the inside of the case, if desired, or theymay be bolt and nut constructions. Any other securing means such as spotweld, etcL, may be used. When these joints 4-1 and 42 are so secured,all of the components of the case are substantially completely securedtogether solely by such joints, and, conversely,

if it is desired to disassemble the case for repairs or the like, thejoints 4]. and 42 may be released by drilling out the pinlike members59, if they are rivet pins, or by disengaging the bolt and nutconstructions, or by drilling out the spot welds. When so released, theentire case may be disassembled for replacement of any injured parts, orfor any other desired purpose.

If desired, the end of the leg 32 may be severed at 52, 52a, and 52b toaccommodate flange and channel constructions later to be described.

A typical cross-section of the extruded metal which forms the sides andends of the carrying case is shown in FIGURE 2. For convenience, it isdesignated as a side 28 but the cross-section of FIGURE 2 is equallyapplicable to the end legs 30 and 32, except where the extruded metalhas not been changed by forming operations herein described. Suchextruded member, as shown in FIGURE 2, has a main body, which has beendesignated as 23, to which an upper stiffening channel 54 is integrallyformed at the top of the extruded member. Another channel 56 isintegrally secured at the bottom of the extruded member. If desired,ornamental and stiffening ribs or grooves 57 are formed in the mainportion 28 of the extruded member. The upper channel 54 has an outerwall 58, an upper inward flange 59, which is beaded at 60, and a lowerinward flange 61. The channel 54 has a rigidifying action on the wallmember, and also receives the upper portions of the ends of the dividers38 and 39, as seen in FIGURES 9 and 10.

The inward flange 61, in addition, forms an inward flange constructionwhich extends into the slits 63 and 64 of the ends of the dividers 38and 39. The dividers 38 and 39 are securely held against upward ordownward movement by this flange and slit construction. Thisconstruction permits some sidewise movement of the ends of the dividers38 and 39, which is useful during the assembly, or disassembly, of thecarrying case, as will become apparent.

The lower channel 56, of. the extrusion shown in FIG- URE 2, may includean upper flange 66 and a lower flange 67, joined by an outer wall 68,these being formed during the extrusion process and being integral withthe wall 28. (The entire cross-section of FIGURE 2 is produced duringthe extrusion process.) The channel 56 receives the upper flange 70,FIGURES 7, 9 and 10, of the floor of the carrying case. This upperflange 70 of the floor extends along a major portion of the entireperiphery of the floor, such as along one side and both ends of theslats 34 and 36, and along the ends of the slat 35. The

channel 56, in addition, produces a rigidifying efiect upon the sidewallsection shown in FIGURE 2. Further, a lower flange 6'7 is adapted torest upon an upper flange 59 of empty, and vertically nested similarcarrying cases, this nested relationship being shown in dotted lines atthe upper part of FIGURE 9. The lower offset 72 of the floor, FIGURES 7,9 and 10, also extends substantially around the periphery of the floorin a manner similar to the upper flange 70, and aids in preventing anysliding action between vertically nested empty cases, as shown in FIGURE9.

' A double rabbet joint is formed at the intersection of the dividers 38and 39, FIGURE 3. A downward rabbet 74 is formed in divider 38 andupward rabbet 75 is formed in the divider 39. When these areinterconnected, a secure joint is formed at the intersection, whichpermits slight play at the end of the dividers, which play is usefulduring the assembly and disassembly of the case, as will becomeapparent. Notches 76 are formed in the ends of the divider 38 to permitmore freedom in the hand holds later to be described. a

Hand holds 78 are formed in the long legs 32 at the ends 23 and 24 ofthe case. These hand hold-s are formed by cutting slightly taperedopenings in the legs 32. The upper edge of the hand holds 78 is formedby a curved flange construction 3%, FIGURES l0 and 12. The flangeconstruction St has a slot 81 formed therein which receives the end ofthe divider 38 and locks it against sidewise movement after the carryingcase has been completed. The lower edge of the hand hold 7 8 has anotherhorizontal fiange construction 32, FIGURES l0 and 13, which has a slot83, which likewise receives the end of the divider 38 and holds itagainst sidewise movement after the carrying case has been completelysecured together. The divider 39 also has its ends held against sidewisemovement by a pair of slotted constructions 84, FIGURES 1, 3, 9 and 11.Such slotted constructions may be formed by a pair of inwardly strucknotches 85 which form a slot 86 between the notches to receive the endof the divider 39 and to hold it against lateral displacement when thecarrying case is completely assembled. Display openings 88 may be cut insides 26 and 27 of the carrying case. Preferably, these openings are ofthe same general shape as the hand hold openings '78. They are ofsufllcient size to display familiar identifying marks on the bottlecartons which are to be placed in the four compartments 90 which areformed by the dividers 38 and 39.

If desired, the'sides 92'and 93 of the slats 34 and 36 respectively,FIGURE 3, may be notched or offset, to produce the slots 94, FIGURE 6,between the slats 34, 35 and 36 for drainage purposes. The offsets 95 atthe ends of slats 34 and 36 maintain the spacing relationship at theslots 94, as'is evident.

While the carrying case has been shown in a form to receive four cartonsin each of which a plurality of bottles are placed, the case may be madeto receive individual bottles or other articles, as desired.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the simple and eflicient sidewise assembly which ispossible with the components of this carrying case. The composite sidemember 27, for example, may have its flange 56, FIGURES 3, 7, 9 and 10,inserted around the top flange '79 of the floor slats 34, 35 and 36,both along the side 28 and also along the short leg 30 and the long leg32 by sidewise movement ultimately to reach the position shown in FIGURE4. Thereafter, the side member 26 may have its lower flange 56 movedsidewise into the top flange 70 of the floor so that the correspondingchannel 56 received the top flange 70 by a sidewise sliding movement.This sidewise sliding movement may be continued leftward to a positionbeyond that illustrated in FIGURE 4 until the openings 51, FIGURE 3, inthe ends 44 and 45 are aligned to receive the rivets or bolts 50. Therivets or bolts 50 are then secured in place by a riveting action or bytightening of the nuts.

In the meantime, the dividers 38 and 39 have permitted this sidewisemovement to take place because of the slight play which is possible atthe intersection of the dividers and at their ends. The divider 39 isplaced underneath the divider 38 at the double rabbet joint. The ends ofthe divider 38 are inserted in the slots 81 and 83, FIGURES 1O, 12 and13, of the flange constructions 8t) and 8-2 by a longitudinal movementof the member 26 before it is moved sidewise to the position shown inFIGURE 4. The ends of the divider 39 are then guided in between theslots of the notches 84, while the slits 63 and 64 at the ends of thedividers are guided into the horizontal flange 61. The final sidewisemovement of the side member 25 to the riveting position completely locksall of the components in place, so that the final riveting operationcompletely assembles the carrying case.

Conversely, the case may be disassembled by drilling out the rivets 50,or by loosening the bolt nut constructions, it used. Thereafter, thecase may be disassembled by a converse sidewise movement of the sidewallmembers 26 and 27.

The floor slats 34, 35 and 36 may be temporarily tacked together ontheir undersurface, or they may be assembled within a rectangularrecess, not shown, on a bench support, which recess receives the loweroffset 72 of the floor slats 34-, 35 and 36 to hold them in correctassembled position before the composite side members 26 and 27 areapplied. Any other method of assembly may be used, if desired.

A construction is thus provided in which the sidewall extrusion may beworked and shaped by simple operations to cooperate with flat,rectangularly cross-sectioned, nonmetallic, slatlike floor and dividermembers, so that these components may be completely assembled by asimple sidewise movement. This sidewise movement interlocks thecomponents in such a manner that they are securely held by the joiningof two securing joints at obliquely opposed corners of the carryingcase. The components are relatively inexpensive in their original shape,and are inexpensively worked into their final design. The assembly alsois an inexpensive and thorough operation which produces a rugged,attractive, and long lasting carrying case.

While the form or embodiment of the invention now preferred has beendisclosed, as required by statute, other embodiments or forms may beused, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A carrying case for bottles and the like comprising: a pair ofidentical inwardly facing extruded metal sidewall forming members eachhaving a main member forming a first substantially straight wall of saidcase and having integrally therewith a short leg at right angles to saidmain member and forming a portion of a second substantially straightwall of said case, said main member also having a long leg at rightangles to said main member and forming a portion of a thirdsubstantially straight wall of said case, each sidewall forming memberhaving a floor-receiving channel extending along the main member andshort and long leg thereof; a frat, non-metallic floor at the bottom ofsaid case and receivable in said channels; and two non-metallic dividersinside said case at right angles to each other, said sidewall formingmembers, floor, and dividers being shaped to be substantially completelysecured together by two similar securing joints, each joint beingproduced at an end means of a short leg of one of said sidewall formingmembers and at an end means of a long leg of the other of said sidewallforming members, said joints being located adjacent and spaced fromopposite obliquely disposed corners of said case, said end means of saidsidewall forming members permitting said sidewall forming members to beas sembled together by eflecting relative movement therebetween in thesame plane as said floor to insert said floor in said channels and toform said joints, one of said dividers being held within said caseagainst sidewise rocking movement by a slotted flange construction whichreceives an end of said divider in the slotted portion of said flange,each of said long legs having a hand-hold opening therein one horizontaledge of which is formed by said slotted flange construction.

2. A carrying case for bottles and the like comprising: a pair ofidentical inwardly facing extruded metal sidewall forming members eachhaving a main member forming a first substantially straight Wall of saidcase and having integrally therewith a short leg at right angles to saidmain member and forming a portion of a second substantially straightwall of said case, said main member also having a long leg at rightangles to said main member and forming a portion of a thirdsubstantially straight wall of said case, each sidewall forming memberhaving a floor-receiving channel extending along the main member andshort and long legs thereof; a flat, non-metallic floor at the bottom ofsaid case and receivable in said channels; and two non-metallic dividersinside said case at right angles to each other, said sidewall formingmembers, floor, and dividers being shaped to be substantially completelysecured together by two similar securing joints, each joint beingproduced at an end means of a short leg of said one of said sidewallforming members and at an end means of a long leg of the other of saidsidewall forming members, said joints being located ad jaoent and spacedfrom opposite obliquely disposed corners of said case, said end means ofsaid sidewall forming members permitting said sidewall forming membersto be assembled together by effecting relative movement therebetween inthe same plane as said door to insert said floor in said channels and toform said joints, one of said dividers being held within said caseagainst sidewise rocking movement by a slotted construction whichreceives an end of said divider in the slotted portion of said construction, said construction being formed by a pair of spaced inwardlystruck notches formed in one of the sidewall forming members.

3. A substantially rectangular carrying case for bottles and the likecomprising: a pair of identical inwardly facing sidewall forming memberseach having a main member forming a first substantially straight wall ofsaid case and having integrally therewith a short leg at right angles tosaid main member and forming a portion of a second substantiallystraight wall of said case, said main member also having a long leg atright angles to said main member and forming a portion of a thirdsubstantially straight wall of said case, each sidewall forming memberhaving a floor-receiving channel along the main member and short andlong legs thereof; a flat floor receivable in said channels; and twodividers at right angles to each other, said sidewall forming members,floor and dividers being shaped to be substantially completely securedtogether by two similar securing joints each being produced by an endmeans of a short leg of one of said sidewall forming members and an endmeans of a long leg of the other of said sidewall forming members, saidends overlapping and being directed toward each other, said joints beinglocated adjacent and spaced from opposite obliquely disposed corners ofsaid case, said end wall means of said sidewall forming memberspermitting said sidewall forming members to be assembled together byeffecting relative movement therebetween in the same plane as said floorto insert said floor in said channels and to form said joints, saiddividers being interlocked by a double rabbet joint, said overlappingends being secured together by pin-like members passing through saidends at right angles to said ends, and said dividers being held withinsaid case by an inward flange construction on said sidewall formingmembers which extends into receiving slits in the ends of said dividers,one of said dividers being held within said case against sidewiserocking movement 7 by a slotted construction which receives an end' ofsaid divider in the slotted portion of said construction, one of saidlong legs having a hand-held opening having a horizontal edge which isformed by said slotted construction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/26 Ringler22074 11/43 Hutchings 217-19 1/44 Hardin 211719 8 1 1/50 Rawn 220-4 5 52 Piker M 220-4 11/53 Coxe 2204 3/54 Stevenson 22021 5/59 Sitler 22022FOREIGN PATENTS 1/47 Australia.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

1. A CARRYING CASE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: A PAIR OFIDENTICAL INWARDLY FACING EXTRUDED METAL SIDEWALL FORMING MEMBERS EACHHAVING A MAIN MEMBER FORMING A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT WALL OF SAIDCASE AND HAVING INTEGRALLY THEREWITH A SHORT LEG AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAIDMAIN MAMBER AND FORMING A PORTION OF A SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHTWALL OF SAID CASE, SAID MAIN MEMBER ALSO HAVING A LONG LEG AT RIGHTANGLES TO SAID MAIN MEMBER AND FORMING A PORTION OF A THIRDSUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT WALL OF SAID CASE, EACH SIDEWALL FORMING MEMBERHAVING A FLOOR-RECEIVING CHANNEL EXTENDING ALONG THE MAIN MEMBER ANDSHORT AND LONG LEG THEREOF; A FLAT, NON-METALLIC FLOOR AT THE BOTTOM OFSAID CASE AND RECEIVABLE IN SAID CHANNELS; AND TWO NON-METALLIC DIVIDERSINSIDE SAID CASE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, SAID SIDEWALL FORMINGMEMBERS, FLOOR, AND DIVIDERS BEING SHAPED TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELYSECURED TOGETHER BY TWO SIMILAR SECURING JOINTS, EACH JOINT BEINGPRODUCED AT AN END MEANS OF A SHORT LEG OF ONE OF SAID SIDEWALL FORMINGMEMBERS AND AT AN END MEANS OF A LONG LEG OF THE OTHER OF SAID SIDEWALLFORMING MEMBERS, SAID JOINTS BEING LOCATED ADJACENT AND SPACED FROMOPPOSITE OBLIQUELY DISPOSED CORNERS OF SAID CASE, SAID END MEANS OF SAIDSIDEWALL FORMING MEMBERS PERMITTING SAID SIDEWALL FORMING MEMBERS TO BEASSEMBLED TOGETHER BY EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN IN THESAME PLANE AS SAID FLOOR TO INSERT SAID FLOOR IN SAID CHANNELS AND TOFORM SAID JOINTS, ONE OF SAID DIVIDERS BEING HELD WITHIN SAID CASEAGAINST SIDEWISE ROCKING MOVEMENT BY A SLOTTED FLANGE CONSTRUCTION WHICHRECEIVES AN END OF SAID DIVIDER IN THE SLOTTED PORTION OF SAID FLANGE,EACH OF SAID LONG LEGS HAVING A HAND-HOLD OPENING THEREIN ONE HORIZONTALEDGE OF WHICH IS FORMED BY SAID SLOTTED FLANGE CONSTRUCTION.